‘But Zachary …’ Felicia began, but let her voice trail off, as if she knew disagreeing was futile. She glared at Evie. ‘I’ll take Joshua’s key. And we do require someone to carry his bags – and mine – to our rooms. My key please. I hope you’ve allocated us rooms next door to one another, as instructed.’ She held out a silky-smooth hand with immaculately manicured red nails.
‘Rooms one and two,’ Evie replied, sliding the keys towards Felicia, all the while aware that Zachary hadn’t moved.
‘Shall I wait for Joshua?’ Felicia asked Zachary.
‘No need. I’ll make sure he’s comfortable. You go ahead.’
‘My bags?’ She glowered at Evie.
‘I’ll bring your bags,’ Zachary said, before Evie had a chance to reply.
‘Oh. Thank you, Zachary.’ Felicia smiled at him but the smile was gone when she looked back to Evie. ‘Where’s the lift?’
‘There isn’t one.’
‘No lift?’
Evie shook her head. ‘No. It does make that clear on the website but rooms one and two are on this floor, so there aren’t any stairs to climb. They’re along the hall, on the right. They overlook Michaelmas Bay.’
Felicia still looked horrified. ‘I hope Mr and Mrs Thorn also have ground-floor rooms.’
Again Zachary replied before Evie had a chance. ‘Mum and Dad can manage a flight of stairs, Felicia.’
‘They don’t need to,’ Evie said. ‘I’ve allocated room three to them. Also on this floor.’
With a haughty flick of her blonde hair, Felicia walked away. The next person in line, a man about the same age as Zachary, stepped forward, holding the glass of mulled wine Raven had given him. She handed one out to everyone waiting. Zachary still hadn’t moved, but he had taken a glass of the wine and was sipping it as he stared at Evie.
‘Was there something else I can do for you, Mr Thorn? Sorry. Zachary.’
He smiled. ‘I can think of several things. But not right now. Am I bothering you?’
Evie tried to control whatever was dancing around in the vicinity of her stomach by pulling in her tummy muscles and standing up as straight as she could.
‘Not in the least. I merely wondered why you were still standing there. I thought you must want something.’
‘Oh I do. But it can wait. This wine is delicious. Please give my compliments to whomever made it. I’ll get out of the way and go and join Mum, Dad and Pops. They’re outside with your father.’
Evie ignored his flippant comment. ‘Mum made it. I’ll tell her it meets with your approval. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled. I do apologise if my father is keeping some of the guests talking in the cold. I’ll ask Raven to speak to him.’
‘No need. I think they’re keeping him, not the other way around. Pops hasn’t stopped talking to him since the moment we arrived. Pops is my grandfather. Joshua Thorn.’
‘Yes, I had worked that out.’ She turned her attention to the guest in front of her. ‘May I take your name, please?’
‘Brandon Carr,’ the man said, smiling at her.
Zachary gave him a friendly slap on the back and Brandon almost spilt his mulled wine. Zachary threw Evie another sexy smile and, as he walked away, the chattering crowd parted to let him through.
‘I’m one of Zach’s camera crew,’ Brandon said. ‘And I can walk up a flight of stairs.’ He gave her a friendly wink. ‘Don’t mind, Felicia. She’s OK once you get to know her. Not exactly the sweetie Zach says she is, but then he never says a bad word about anyone. She is very efficient though.’
Evie smiled. ‘I’m sure she is.’
He knocked back the rest of the mulled wine and put the glass on the tray marked ‘Empty glasses’.
‘This place is great. Much better than that stuffy Grand Hotel in Michaelmas Bay. But probably not as much to do around here. Not that far to go to get into town though.’
‘There’s a lot going on in the summer … usually.’ This summer had been a wash out, but he didn’t need to know that. ‘There’s still sailing and other water sports in the bay, weather conditions permitting. And fishing. There’re some lovely walks, both along the coastal paths and also in the hills and through Michaelmas Great Wood. The night sky here is incredible – if you’re into star gazing, but if it’s nightlife you’re looking for, or shops, then you need to go into Michaelmas Bay.’
‘The only star gazing I do is watching Zach through my lens and after a long day of filming all I usually want is to have a couple of beers and go to sleep.’
‘Well, you can do both of those here. I hope you enjoy your stay.’ She handed him the key. ‘Room eight. Take that flight of stairs and turn right at the top. Your room is on the left, this side of the inn, overlooking Snowflake Cove.’
‘Thanks, Evie. You know, your photo doesn’t do you justice.’
‘My photo?’
‘On the website. Zach showed it to us.’
‘He did what? Why?’ Evie glanced towards the door but there was no sign of Zachary now.
Brandon shrugged. ‘I suppose because you’re going to be in the Christmas show. That’s what Zach said when he told us the other day that there’d been a change of plan. Anyway, see you later. I’d better dash. I’m dying for a pee.’
Evie couldn’t really ask him to elaborate about the Christmas show after that comment and it took a few seconds to realise that she hadn’t told him there were toilets just off reception. She hoped he would make it to his room in time and made a mental note to ask Zachary about the show, at the first opportunity she got.
Had the man read her mind? Was he really going to include Snowflake Inn in the live Christmas Special of ‘Thorn On Your Side’?
Christmas really was a time for miracles and magic. She couldn’t wait to tell her family.
Chapter Seventeen
‘It’s the least the man can do,’ Jessie said, when Evie dashed into the kitchen to tell her mum and gran about Brandon’s comment, once all the guests were checked in.
‘What does that mean, Gran? Is there something you’re not telling us?’
‘Nothing you need to know.’
Evie’s dad strolled in, with Roland and Raven close behind, and dropped onto a kitchen chair, leaning his arms on the table, a cheery smile on his face. Roland stood as near to Evie as he could without actually touching her and Raven perched on the arm of Jessie’s armchair, slid an arm around Jessie’s shoulder and gave her a kiss on her pale forehead.
Evie was as astonished as Jessie.
‘What was that for?’ Jessie asked, trying to shrug off Raven’s arm, but unable to hide the smile creeping over her thin lips.
‘Just felt like it, Grammie,’ Raven replied. ‘That was fun, wasn’t it, Grandpa?’
John nodded. ‘It certainly was. What a lovely bunch of people. Zachary is as nice in real life as he is on TV and as for his parents, well, Molly my love...’ He glanced at his wife, ‘... you’re going to enjoy chatting to them. And you wouldn’t know Joshua was one of the richest men in the UK if he didn’t have that Felicia woman telling all and sundry.’ He shook his head and laughed. ‘She needs to get a bit more festive spirit inside her.’
‘She refused the mulled wine,’ Raven said.
Evie laughed. ‘She looked as if she thought it might kill her. What surprised me the most was that she’s got a boyfriend. I assume Pete’s her boyfriend. He could just be her personal slave. He was the last guy I checked in before the rest of the Thorn family, and all he said was that his name was Peter Poulter but we could call him Pete, that he was in “Zach’s TV crew” and when I said we seemed to be a room short but not to worry because there was another vacant room, he laughed and said, “I’m in with Felicia.” I was so shocked I couldn’t speak and he had to ask me twice what room she was in.’
‘Poor guy,’ Raven said.
‘Oh I don’t know,’ Roland said, staring straight at Evie. ‘She was pretty hot. Or she would be, with the right man.’
Molly gave him
a stern look and waved a wooden spoon at him. ‘No fraternising with the guests, young man.’ Then she chuckled and added: ‘I’ll tell your mother.’
Roland shot her a quick look, smiled and looked Evie up and down as if he was taking in every last detail about her.
‘No need,’ he said. ‘I’m not interested in Felicia.’
Evie moved as far away from him as she could without drawing attention to what she was doing. That boy needed to be chained beneath a cold shower. She’d have to do something to make him see that he had about as much chance of hooking up with her as she did of her hooking up with Zachary Thorn. And there was zero chance of that.
‘We’d better get a move on,’ she said, to no one in particular. ‘Zachary said they’d all be down in about twenty minutes and that was some time ago. We need to make sure everything is laid out, ready and waiting for them. Oh! Did you hear about the Christmas Special, Dad? That we’re going to be in it or something? Isn’t that wonderful?’
He nodded. ‘Zach told me briefly. He said we can discuss the details tonight. I told you all that there was no need to worry and that everything would be sorted out by Christmas, didn’t I?’
Molly put a mug of tea on the table in front of him and he reached out, pulled her gently onto his lap and kissed her full on the mouth.
‘Ew, Grandpa!’ Raven said, averting her eyes.
Roland stared at Evie and licked his lips. She must stop looking in his direction. Each time she did, she wanted to drown him. She glanced at Jessie, who was watching the kiss with a wistful look on her face.
‘It’s Christmas,’ John said, when he’d finished, and there was a huge smile on his lips.
Molly, red-faced and blissful-looking, went back to take a tray of mince pies from the oven. ‘It certainly is,’ she said. ‘And I think it’s going to be better than any of us expected.’
A knock on the kitchen door had everyone virtually standing to attention and when it opened, seconds later, the relief was almost audible as Logan Dorset walked in, although it took a moment for Evie to recognise him. He’d definitely improved since the last time she’d seen him. The photos in Jane’s house paled against the man in the flesh.
Her mum was right. This Christmas was definitely going to be better than expected. A lot, lot better if the smile Logan was giving her was anything to go by.
‘Wow, Evie! I hardly recognised you. Hello everyone. Sorry I’m late. The traffic was worse than I’d anticipated and when we got here, there wasn’t a space left in the car park. Who do those posh cars belong to? Not the lot staying here, surely?’
‘Where’re you parked then, Logan?’ John asked, getting to his feet to shake Logan’s hand as Molly dashed forwards to give Logan a hug.
‘Gran was waiting by the door and waved us down as soon as she saw me and Mum arrive. Then as Mum was getting out, Gran popped to Darren’s. She knew the car park was full and had already spoken to him. He came and moved his car and Juniper’s virtually up against the wall so there was just enough space for mine.’
‘I’ll have a word with Zach,’ John said, ‘and see if they can move their vehicles even closer together. They did the best they could, but we may be able to make a bit more space. Does anyone else have visitors over Christmas?’
‘In Snowflake Cove?’ Molly queried. ‘No. Other than Severine coming to us, of course. But she’ll be arriving by train. Which reminds me, I must send her a text and ask if she’s coming alone or if she’s bringing her new man. Do you know, darling?’
Raven shook her head. ‘No. She sent me a text earlier saying she’d call me tonight. Shall I ask her?’
‘Yes please. Has anyone told her about our guests yet? Or are we still waiting until she arrives?’
‘Waiting,’ Evie, John and Jessie all said, in unison.
‘Severine’s coming home for Christmas?’ Logan looked anxious and there was a catch in his voice.
‘Severine comes home every Christmas,’ Molly replied. ‘But she’s in New York at the moment visiting her new boyfriend’s parents. It sounds fairly serious, but we all know what Severine’s like. Oh good gracious, listen to me. Sorry, darling.’ She smiled apologetically at Raven, who merely shrugged and smiled back.
‘That’s OK, Granny M. We do all know what Mum’s like.’
Logan shot a look at Raven and his Adam’s Apple jumped up and down like a jack in the box. He’d gone surprisingly pale. Was he feeling unwell? Before Evie had a chance to ask, Molly grabbed Raven and pulled her towards Logan.
‘Oh goodness, that reminds me,’ Molly said. ‘Logan, this is Raven, Severine’s daughter. She’s fifteen. I think you’d just left when we found out Severine was expecting, because that was the year … Oh I’m so sorry, Logan. I hope I haven’t brought up painful memories.’
Logan blinked several times before shaking his head. ‘That was the year Dad died. No apology needed. I still miss him but time heals, so they say. Hello, Raven. Your mum and I … and Evie were friends, a long time ago. My gran has mentioned you, of course, but it’s good to meet you face to face.’
‘Friends!’ Molly laughed. ‘You were virtually part of the family during the holidays. You shouldn’t have stayed away so long, Logan. We all missed you, you know.’
‘I’ve missed all of you.’ He dragged his gaze from Raven, to Evie then back again. ‘I … I don’t know if Gran’s mentioned it, but I’m considering moving to Michaelmas Bay. For good. Nothing’s certain, but … I think it’s very likely.’
Evie watched him for a few moments. There was something weird about the way he had just looked at her and there was definitely something strange about the way he was looking at Raven. What was that about? Surely he wasn’t the sort of man who liked teenage girls? Not Logan Dorset. He was such a nice boy when they’d all … wait a minute. Hadn’t Severine had a bit of a thing for Logan? Evie had teased her about it because Severine was a couple of years older than him. He was eighteen or nineteen to Severine’s twenty-one and Evie …
Oh my God! Logan! No. That was ridiculous. He couldn’t be … could he? There was no way. Evie looked from him to Raven and back again, several times. There wasn’t even the slightest resemblance. Or was there?
No one in the Starr family knew, other than Severine of course, the identity of Raven’s biological father. When Severine discovered she was pregnant, she had flatly refused to say by whom. All she would say was that it was some guy she had met at the annual Michaelmas Bay Summer Fayre. She wouldn’t even give his name and when any of them asked, she glowered at them, had one of her tantrums and stormed off to her room, saying that they were worse than the CIA. Evie pointed out that she couldn’t possibly know what the CIA were like, but that didn’t seem to help. Shortly after Raven was born, Severine ran off to London. But at least she took Raven with her. And she didn’t exactly run off. She found herself a job as a nurse in one of the big, London hospitals and moved into a house with another single mum she’d met on some flat-sharing site. She’d stuck to the Summer Fayre story ever since. Even Raven had no idea who her birth father was. It was a secret which only Severine – and possibly Raven’s dad, knew. Assuming Severine had told her child’s father.
Evie glanced at each of her family members in turn. They were all chatting and laughing and carrying on as if nothing had changed. Asking Logan questions and showing him where everything was. Was she the only one who had seen Logan’s initial reaction to Raven? The only one who was putting two and two together and coming up with Logan Dorset.
As if he knew what she was thinking, Logan glanced in her direction and as she met his eyes, his expression said it all.
Either Logan Dorset was Raven’s father. Or he damn well knew who was.
Chapter Eighteen
It sounded like a herd of reindeer galloping down the stairs but it was merely some of the new guests eager to make their way to the lounge for some much-needed refreshments. John and Roland had set up a couple of trestle tables earlier in the day and Molly had cove
red them with white table cloths. Evie and Raven had a lot of fun, listening to Christmas songs on the radio whilst setting up various picturesque ‘scenes’ on the tables. They used ceramic Christmas ornaments including polar bears, snowmen, reindeers, elves and miniature snow-covered houses before adding little plastic people. They sprinkled the whole thing with glitter and used fine, bleached sheep’s wool to look like piles of snow. Fairy lights with tiny bulbs were entwined throughout and they, together with two table lamps, the Christmas tree lights, and the glow from the blazing log fire, roaring in the hearth, were the only illumination. The room was warm, cosy and welcoming, even if the table decorations were a little ‘tacky’. They added to the ambience and made it seem all the more magical – and fun.
On the tables were plates piled high with mince pies, warm from the oven, shortbread, and gingerbread reindeers. The reindeers were Evie’s speciality. She had seen them on a Christmas baking show and had made some right away. Today she had shown Raven how to make them. She turned freshly baked gingerbread men upside down so that the arms and legs formed antlers and the head formed a large, reindeer face. Using tubes of coloured icing, she drew huge eyes and a long, shallow ‘W’ for the mouth. She popped a glacé cherry just above the mouth to make the reindeer’s nose. Jessie told them they were behaving like toddlers, before joining in and decorating some herself. The reindeers took pride of place on the tables.
The Starrs didn’t want the guests to eat too much a mere few hours before dinner, but in addition to the sweet treats, there were some miniature sausage rolls and cocktail sausages. Guests could choose between tea, coffee and hot chocolate, or if they preferred, another glass or two of mulled wine. The two guests, Tracy and Trevor Bright, who had been staying at the inn for the past week, were invited to partake. It gave them an opportunity to meet their fellow diners before dinner was served at eight p.m. Although, as they were leaving the following day, this was more a case of the Starr family not wanting anyone to feel excluded from this ‘happy hour’ than everyone getting to know one another.
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